Today in 2000 - Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers

October 15, 2000 – Today in 2000, the Atlanta Falcons swooped in to Ericsson Stadium to face the Carolina Panthers in a Week 3 matchup.

The only scoring in the first quarter was a 31 yard field goal by Morten Andersen.  In the second quarter, the Falcons added to their lead on a 26 yard touchdown run by Jamal Anderson.  The Panthers responded in kind with a 33 yard field goal by Richie Cunningham and a 9 yard touchdown pass from Steve Beuerlein to Muhsin Muhammad.  The game was tied at halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, Morten Andersen broke the tie with a 27 yard field goal.  Then Atlanta sealed the deal with a safety.  The Atlanta Falcons beat the Carolina Panthers 15-10.

Beuerlein passed 21-37 for 241 yards with a touchdown and 2 interceptions for the Panthers.  Tim Biakabutuka was held to 45 yards on 12 rushes.  For the Falcons, Chris Miller passed 21-27 for 174 yards and Jamal Anderson had 22 rushes for 97 yards and a touchdown.  He also had 2 receptions for 12 yards.  Jason Peter and Reggie White each had a sack for Carolina, and Ashley Ambrose and Ray Buchanan each had an interception.  Shane Dronett and Travis White recorded a sack for the Atlanta, while Chuck Wiley had 2 sacks.

Carolina went to 1-2 for the season and Atlanta went to 2-1.  The Panthers finished the season 7-9.  The Falcons finished the season at 4-12.

Notables

• There was 1 Hall of Famer present:  Reggie White for the Panthers.
  
• This was George Seifert’s second season coaching the Panthers.  He coached the team from 1999-2001.  He was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 1989-96 and led them to two Super Bowl victories.
  
• This was Dan Reeves’ fourth season coaching the Falcons.  He coached the team from 1997-2003 and led them to a Super Bowl appearance.  Reeves was featured in recent entries of this blog.
  
• Falcons kicker Morten Anderson holds the team scoring record for the Falcons and New Orleans Saints.  His career spanned from 1982-2005.

Here are some historical scores on this day for teams facing each other this week, on October 15,

1978 – Philadelphia 17 – Washington 10

2000 – Minnesota 28 – Chicago 16

2006 – New York Jets 20 – Miami 17

Game stats can be found on Pro-Football-Reference.com at Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers - October 15, 2000.

Today in 1952 - Los Angeles Rams vs Green Bay Packers

October 12, 1952 – Here’s a real old school game for you.  Today in 1952, the Los Angeles Rams went to Milwaukee (Lambeau Field didn’t exist yet) to take on the Green Bay Packers in a Week 3 contest. 

The Packers scored first on a 14 yard touchdown run by Bobby Jack Floyd.  At the end of the first quarter, Green Bay led 7-0.

Bob Waterfield got the Rams on the board in the second quarter with field goals from 16 and 32 yards.  The Packers answered with a 69 yard touchdown pass from Tobin Rote to Billy Howton.  Green Bay led 14-6 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Green Bay added to their lead with a 17 yard touchdown pass from Rote to Bob Mann and a 6 yard touchdown pass from Babe Parili to Mann.  At the end of the quarter, the Packers led the Rams 28-6.

The Rams came to life in the fourth quarter.  Dan Towler scored on a 1 yard touchdown run to make it 28-13.  Waterfield kicked a 25 yard field goal.  Even the defense got in on the action.  Bob Carey recovered a Green Bay fumble and ran 16 yard for a touchdown.  The score narrowed to 28-23.  Towler finished the comeback with a 3 yard touchdown run and the Los Angeles Rams beat the Green Bay Packers 30-28.

Both teams went to 1-2.  Green Bay finished the season at 6-6.  Los Angeles finished the season at 9-3 and lost to the Detroit Lions in the playoffs, who ended up winning the NFL Championship.

Notables

• There were 7 Hall of Famers present: Tony Canadeo for the Packers, and Norm Van Brocklin, Bob Waterfield, Tom Fears, Elroy Hirsch, Andy Robustelli, and Dick Lane for the Rams.
  
• This was Gene Ronzani’s third season coaching the Packers.  He coached the team from 1950-53.
  
• This was Hampton Pool’s first season coaching the Rams.  He coached the team from 1952-54.  He replaced Hall of Famer Joe Stydahar after the first game of the season.  Stydahar coached the team from 1950-52.
  
• Pool and Stydahar were teammates with the Chicago Bears from 1940-43.  Ronzani and Stydahar were teammates with the Bears from 1936-38 and 1945.
  
• Van Brocklin went on to become the first head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.  He coached the team from 1961-66.
  
• Bob Waterfield went on to become the head coach for the Rams from 1960-62.
  
• Tom Fears was the first head coach of the New Orleans Saints.  He coached the team from 1967-70.
  
• Jerry Williams was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1969-71.
  
• Norb Hecker was the first head coach for the Atlanta Falcons.  He coached the team from 1966-68.
  
• Van Brocklin replaced Hecker as the head coach of the Falcons.  He coached the team from 1968-74.
  
• The Rams had players with unique names, like Skeet Quinlan, Vitamin Smith, Charlie Toogood, and Dick “Night Train” Lane.  The Packers had Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch.

Here are some historical scores on this day for teams facing each other this week, on October 12,

1952 – San Francisco 28 – Detroit 0

1969 – Minnesota 31 – Chicago 0

1980 – Minnesota 13 – Chicago 7

1997 – Miami 31 – New York Jets 20

2003 – Cleveland 13 – Oakland 7

2009 – Miami 31 – New York Jets 27

Game stats can be found on Pro-Football-Reference.com at Los Angeles Rams vs Green Bay Packers - October 12, 1952.

Last Place Update - October 11

October 11, 2011 – Okay, so I’m wrong.  No bye week for the Last Place Update, thanks to the Indianapolis Colts.  It’s one thing if you lose to Green Bay, Detroit, New England or New Orleans.  But noooo…you lost to Kansas City…AT HOME!!  

The question to ask is, was Peyton Manning so good and so needed that the Colts are helpless without him?  My answer is no.  Proof?  Archie Manning.  For years, he was the only good player the Saints had and I saw so many of his receivers drop pinpoint passes.  Archie Manning's Saints had no defense and a porous offensive line, so no, Peyton Manning's absence isn't the reason for the Colts' terrible record.  His presence would have made a difference, but not a five win difference.  Hence, this winless performance is a team effort.

Therefore, by your dismal 0-5 record, the worst in the NFL, Indianapolis Colts, YOU are this week’s Kings of the Cellar.  The Colts have a five game losing streak, two behind Miami’s seven game losing streak.  The 0-4 Rams and 0-4 Dolphins have byes, so they get a pass.

Today’s honorable mention goes to the 1-4 Philadelphia Eagles.  This is a team with the talent to be 4-1 or 5-0.  They beat Arizona and Jacksonville for the honorable mention, because the Eagles have a much better team than the Cardinals and Jaguars do.  Minnesota was eliminated for contention by beating Arizona.

WARNING!!!! 

You’ve heard the old clichés about how a winless team or a one win team is the best team with that record in the NFL.  The 1-4 Carolina Panthers ARE the best 1-4 team in the league!  Cam Newton kind of reminds me of Randall Cunningham.  If Newton continues to learn and mature at the rate he’s going and if the team executes better, those close losses will turn to wins.  They almost pulled off the upset against the New Orleans Saints and may get that needed win against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.  This week's game is a good test to see if the Panthers have what it takes to win more than just a few games this season.

Next loss for the winless teams…

Indy goes for its sixth loss in Cincinnati, Miami vies for its eighth straight loss versus the New York Jets, and St. Louis invades Lambeau Field to get spanked by the Green Bay Packers and go to 0-5.

Some Top 5 College Football Trivia

October 10, 2011 – Here is this week’s Top 5 college football trivia.

The #1 LSU Tigers go to Neyland Stadium to take on the Tennessee Volunteers.  Tennessee dominates the series 20-8-3.  The Tigers have never won two or more in a row against the Vols until the current three game win streak, including that crazy ending 16-14 game last season.  LSU is 5-2 against Tennessee since 2000.  The last time Tennessee shut out LSU was 20-0 in 1992.  The last time LSU shut out Tennessee was 7-0 in 1933.  Their last tie was 24-24 in 1982 when Leonard Marshall’s Tigers faced Reggie White’s Vols.

The Ole Miss Rebels host the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide in Oxford.  Bama owns the series 48-8-2.  The Tide is current enjoying a seven game winning streak against the Rebels.  Ole Miss has never won two in a row against Alabama.  Both ties were scoreless games.  The last time Alabama shut out Ole Miss was 37-0 in 1996.  Other than the ties, the last time Ole Miss shut out Alabama was 16-0 in 1910.

The #3 Oklahoma Sooners invade Memorial Stadium to play the Kansas Jayhawks.  Oklahoma dominates the series 68-27-6, including a six game winning streak since 2000.  The Jayhawks’ last win streak against the Sooners was a three game streak from 1995-97.  Kansas hadn’t won two or more games in a row against Oklahoma since the 1920’s, where they won two straight (1929-30) and three straight (1922-24).  The last time Oklahoma shut out Kansas was 38-0 in 1979, when future Detroit Lion Billy Sims and future congressman J.C. Watts were Sooners and Leroy Irvin was a Jayhawk.  The last time Kansas shut out Oklahoma was 10-0 in 1961, when John Hadl quarterbacked the Jayhawks.  Their last tie was 13-13 in 1960.

The Indiana Hoosiers go to Camp Randall Stadium to take on the #4 Wisconsin Badgers.  Wisconsin leads the series 37-18-2, and won the last six straight against Indiana.  The Badgers are 12-2 against the Hoosiers since 1993, including an 83-20 spanking last year.  The last time Wisconsin shut out Indiana was 59-0 in 1999.  The last time Indiana shut out Wisconsin was 24-0 in 1980, a season after they blanked the Badgers 3-0.

The #5 Boise State Broncos play the Colorado Buffalos for the first time this week.  So…

The Texas Longhorns host the #6 Oklahoma State Cowboys in Austin.  Texas owns the series 22-3.  Last season’s Cowboys victory broke a 12 game Longhorn winning streak starting in 1998.  Oklahoma State’s only other wins against Texas was in 1997 and 1944.  The last time Texas shut out Oklahoma State was 19-0 in 1967.  The Cowboys have never shut out the Longhorns.

Here are some historical scores for this week’s Top 25 matchups played on October 10,

1902 – Texas A&M 11 – Baylor 6

1908 – Baylor 6 – Texas A&M 5

1908 – Michigan 0 – Michigan State 0

1914 – Auburn 20 – Florida 0

1942 – Florida 6 – Auburn 0

1953 – Illinois 41 – Ohio State 20

1959 – Illinois 9 – Ohio State 0

1964 – Michigan 17 – Michigan State 10

1964 – Ohio State 26 – Illinois 0

1981 – Michigan 38 – Michigan State 20

1981 – Arizona State 24 – Oregon 0

1987 – Michigan State 17 – Michigan 11

1987 – Stanford 44 – Washington State 7

1992 – Michigan 35 – Michigan State 10

1992 – Illinois 18 – Ohio State 16

1998 – Clemson 23 – Maryland 0

1998 – Alabama 20 – Ole Miss 17

1998 – Ohio State 41 – Illinois 0

2009 – Alabama 22 – Ole Miss 3

2009 – Kansas State 66 – Texas Tech 14

Today in 1989 - San Diego Chargers vs Denver Broncos

October 8, 1989 – Today in 1989, the San Diego Chargers visited Mile High Stadium to take on the Denver Broncos in a Week 5 matchup.

The game started off as a battle of the field goals.  The Chargers scored first on a 39 yard field goal by Chris Bahr and San Diego led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Denver answered in the second quarter with a 46 yard field goal and an 18 yard field goal by David Treadwell.  Denver took the lead at halftime 6-3.

The only scoring in the third quarter came on a 2 yard touchdown run by Marion Butts.  San Diego led at the end of the third quarter 10-6.

But Denver would not be denied.  In the fourth quarter, Treadwell kicked a 27 yard field goal to close the gap and Bobby Humphrey had a 17 yard touchdown run to put the game away.  The Denver Broncos beat the San Diego Chargers 16-10.

For the Chargers, Jim McMahon passed 10-19 for 116 yards and an interception.  Tim Spencer had 15 rushes for 78 yards.  For the Broncos, John Elway passed 19-35 for 199 yards and an interception.  Bobby Humphrey rushed 12-102 yards and a touchdown.

San Diego fell to 2-3 with the loss.  They finished the season at 6-10.  Denver went to 4-1.  They finished the season at 11-5 and were given an offensive clinic in Super Bowl XXIV by the Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers 55-10.

Notables

• There was 1 Hall of Famer present in this game, Denver’s John Elway.
  
• This was Dan Henning’s first season coaching the Chargers.  He coached the team from 1989-91.
  
• This was Dan Reeves’ ninth season coaching the Broncos.  He coached the team from 1981-92.  He led the team to three Super Bowl appearances, losing all of them.
  
• Both Reeves and Henning were head coaches of the Atlanta Falcons.  Henning coached them from 1983-86 and Reeves coached them from 1998-2003.  He led them to a Super Bowl appearance in 1998, losing to his old team, the Denver Broncos.
  
• Rick Dennison became the offensive coordinator for the Broncos from 2006-08. 
  
• Two players and a coach from Denver are now coaches with the Houston Texans: backup quarterback Gary Kubiak (head coach), linebacker Rick Dennison (offensive coordinator), and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips (defensive coordinator).
  
• Phillips was the head coach for the Broncos from 1993-94.
• Reeves and Henning both played in 1966, but never against each other.  Reeves was a running back for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965-72. Henning was a quarterback for the Chargers in 1966.
  
• There were three future head coaches on Reeves’ staff.  Chan Gailey became the coach of the Dallas Cowboys (1998-88) and the Buffalo Bills (2010-present).  Phillips became head coach of the New Orleans Saints (interim 1985), Broncos, Buffalo Bills (1998-2000), Atlanta Falcons (interim 2003), and the Dallas Cowboys (2007-10).  Mike Nolan became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2005-08.
  
• There was one future head coach on Henning’s staff, Jim L. Mora.  He became the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (2004-06) and the Seattle Seahawks in 2008.

Here are some historical scores on this day for teams facing each other this week, on October 6,

1961 – Chicago 31 – Detroit 17

1967 – St. Louis Cardinals 34 – Minnesota 24

1972 – St. Louis Cardinals 19 – Minnesota 17

1978 – San Diego 23 – Denver 0

2000 – Denver 21 – San Diego 7

Game stats can be found on Pro-Football-Reference.com at San Diego Chargers vs Denver Broncos - October 8, 1989.